So I decided to continue with my ideas for what the abbey looks like...
I think this would be the "Summoning Well". So here's a good chunk of text with my headcannon and worldbuilding :)
This one's long too, so it's under the cut.
This round room has a path that connects it to the church, but it's closed off by an old, thick, sturdy wooden door. One of those that also has wrought iron decorating and reinforcing it. There is only one key, and the current papa has it. But that doesn't mean he's the only one that can summon ghouls. It's more so that every summoning has to go through his approval.
Inside, the walls are windowless and lined with stone carved statues that represent the summoning. There's only 3 kinds: a reader, a reaper, and a speaker.
In the center of the room there's a raised circular platform. The floor there has deep carvings to make the summoning symbol needed. In its middle there's a stone bowl. That would be the “well” that gives the room it's name.
On the opposite side of the door there's an altar, the summoning book and two distinct skulls on top of it. A human one and a ghoul one.
Behind it there's an old wooden desk. I think whoever is becoming Papa has to spend a lot of time in here to prepare for their title. Most likely studying magic or who knows what arcane things a satanic Papa needs to know.
All summonings need “ingredients” to be performed. The main thing is to line the circle with the element you're asking for. I chose plants for earth ghouls, a jug of special water for water ghouls, a brazier for fire, crystals for quintessence and an empty basket for air. Even though there's no way to plan or ask for multi ghouls or hybrids, they still happen. I'm thinking that as long as the main asked for element is present, then it's fine.
I know a lot of people headcannon that ghouls need a human vessel to come topside, but I'm just not so sure that I like that idea… So here's a happy middle: The bowl in the center has to be filled with blood for a ghoul to be summoned. When ghouls come up through it, they spill the blood, and it runs through the channels in the carved stone. (A gory image, but a pretty cool one). I'm thinking something like, ghouls do have bodies in hell, but to remain up top they need to have something from here in them. Think, magic blood transfusion or something like that. If that blood is human, from the papas, a sacrifice, a volunteer, or an animal I'm not sure.
The corridor surrounding the center part is empty on purpose. Summoning can't be made alone. (It's not that it's impossible, just harder and ill-advised). So current ghouls and maybe siblings have space to stand around and help with chanting or reciting.
Also, there's braziers and lots of candles to light up the room. A pretty nice aesthetic.
But what are the statues for? Nothing? I mean, it's a pretty concept. The reader represents the first part of a summoning, the reading, and studying. The reaper is about the blood you need to complete it. The sayer is about the chanting and reciting.
I suppose there should also be a table to place the summoning blanket we all seem to be writing about and other things like first aid? Water?